Red Wines

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The nose is redolent with ripe plums and dark cherries, as well as abundant red and purple flowers and a faint, blonde-tobacco edge. The palate delivers an ultra-rich and flavorful palate with polished, sinewy tannins that will carry this wine for some time to come. Freshness and balance, finishing taut and youthful. Full of promise, this is one of the finest recent releases from here. Try from 2023.James Suckling | 95 JSThe 2016 Faugères was already showing extremely well a year ago, but now it seems to be showing what it can really do! It has a more classically trained bouquet featuring reserved blackberry and wild strawberry fruit, plus veins of undergrowth, autumn leaves and morels. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Supremely well focused, conveying impressive tension and energy on the finish. Outstanding. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. Vinous Media | 94 VMThe 2016 Faugeres is composed of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 50% new and 50% one-year-old barrels for 15 months. Deep garnet-purple colored, it features baked blueberries, stewed black plums and black cherry compote with hints of spearmint, cigar box and new leather. The palate is medium to full-bodied and laced with black fruit and savory layers with a chewy frame, finishing long with a fragrant earth lift. 6,000 cases produced.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RPShows a bit more lift than most of its peers, staying on the floral, elegant side of the ledger, with cassis and damson plum notes laced with bergamot and rose petal accents. Light incense and apple wood hints underscore the finish. Best from 2021 through 2032. 6,000 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WSA perennial winner that always delivers fruit and texture, the 2016 Château Faugères checks in as 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, representing 60% of the total production, aged in 50% new French oak. Loads of black (and some blue) fruits give way to a medium to full-bodied Saint-Emilion that has classic damp earth, tobacco and violet notes, remarkable purity, fine tannins, and considerable finesse and elegance. Drink it any time over the coming 15+ years. It’s worth noting that Stephan von Neipperg consults on vineyard management, with Michel Rolland providing input on harvest dates winemaking, aging, and final blend.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JDCassis notes dominate this wine, twisted through with acidity and edged with espresso and grilled sarments. It’s high impact but does settle down, its confidence on display. Matured in 50% new oak, with malolactic also carried out in 50% new oak. Michel Rolland consults. (Drink between 2024-2040)Decanter | 91 DEC

An extremely polished Bordeaux with silky tannins that are integrated and creamy-textured. Lots of blueberry and blackberry character. Such pure fruit here. It’s already long and delicious, but has plenty of structure and needs at least four or five years of bottle age. Try after 2024.James Suckling | 97 JSThe 2018 Faugères is fabulous. Silky and nuanced, the 2018 is striking right out of the gate. As I noted previously, the 2018 marks a transition to a more finessed style that is hugely appealing. There is plenty of the richness Faugères fans expect, but, at the same time, the wine is so well balanced and harmonious. Hints of rose petal, lavender, spice and dark fruits linger on the memorable close. The 2018 is an undeniably sexy wine. Antonio Galloni | 96 AGJuicy black cherry, jammy raspberries, toasted spices, and leafy herbs notes all emerge from the 2018 Château Faugères, which is medium to full-bodied and has a soft, elegant texture, a kiss of chalky minerality, and remarkable purity of fruit. A blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and the final 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, brought up in 50% new French oak, this builds nicely with time in the glass, will positively improve over the coming 2-4 years, and cruise in cold cellars over the following decade or more. It’s a beautiful wine.Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDBlack cherry and plum preserve flavors are fresh and well-defined, with anise, violet and black tea notes gilding the finish. Nicely inlaid graphite edge gives it structure, but that stays in the background, letting the fruit play out. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2022 through 2032. 5,000 cases made. Wine Spectator | 92 WSThis 2018 is true to the Faugères signature of big, bold and totally confident in its tannic and fruit structure. It’s high in alcohol but also high in acidity, with great structure without trying to push its agenda. The big, chewy tannins are reflective of its cooler terroir on the eastern edge of St-Emilion. This impressive wine will age well. (Drink between 2026-2040)Decanter | 92 DECThe 2018 Faugères, which was harvested beginning September 25, is composed of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple colored, it slips sensuously from the glass with notions of blackberry compote, wild blueberries and redcurrant jelly with hints of cardamom, cigar box and dusty soil plus a waft of star anise. Full-bodied and built like a brick house, it has a firm backbone of rounded tannins with bold freshness and loads of black fruit preserves layers, finishing long and spicy.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91-93 RP

The 2019 Faugères is one of the most elegant wines I have ever tasted from Silvio Denz’s Saint-Émilion estate. Silky, aromatic and super-expressive, Faugères is absolutely exquisite. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, dried flowers and cinnamon are some of the many nuances that open in the glass. There is plenty of the textural richness readers have come to expect over the years, but the 2019 is less over the top than some previous vintages. And that’s a good thing.Antonio Galloni | 95 AGA full-bodied red with fine tannins and plenty of plum, milk-chocolate and walnut aromas and flavors. It’s creamy and attractively textured. Rather flamboyant for the vintage. Generous and formed. Drink after 2024.James Suckling | 95 JSBroad and extracted in feel, this pushes dark fig, black currant and bitter plum paste flavors to the fore, along with notes of espresso crema, alder and vanilla. Stays rich yet focused through the finish, leaving a lightly toothy echo at the end. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2024 through 2037. 10,800 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WSI always love this wine, and the 2019 Château Faugères is no exception. A big, pleasure-bent beauty, it’s loaded with darker, chocolaty fruit as well as leafy herbs and some classic Saint-Emilion chalkiness and rocky mineral notes. More spice, tobacco, and leather notes emerge with time in the glass, and it’s medium to full-bodied, has a plush, sexy, rounded texture, no hard edges, and a great finish. It’s a beautiful Saint-Emilion to enjoy over the coming 10-15 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDLovely perfumed cherries on the nose, so aromatic and pleasing. This is upfront and juicy straight from the get go, with real purity of juice, crystal clean and bright. Tannins are fine and firm, supportive, but it’s the red cherries and strawberries taking centre stage while the oak edges and cinnamon spice come in after a minute or so alongside some dark chocolate notes adding structure and complexity. Perhaps needs a little longer to meld together a bit more but this is lively and fun. (Drink between 2025-2036)Decanter | 93 DEC